North West police spokesperson Adele Myburgh said nine people had been arrested since Wednesday.

A drive around the town’s CBD showed litter strewn in a number of streets with only a few cars and residents visible in the streets. However‚ there was a heavy police presence as a number of police vans were seen doing the rounds.

Mahumapelo’s office on Thursday called for an end to the violent protests. His spokesperson Brian Setswambung said the protests aim to discredit Mahumapelo.

“[It is] an anti-Supra Mahumapelo political campaign which seeks to intimidate residents of Mahikeng‚” Setswambung said. “The campaign is also characterised by criminality as private properties of some citizens are being looted.”

Pharmacists warned the protests have led to a medicine shortage in the province.

SA Association of Hospital and Institutional Pharmacists (Saahip) said in a statement its members condemned the impact the protests are having on provincial health.

“The strike has resulted in major disruption of the supply of medicines. It is understood that the grievances of the protesters must be addressed‚ but the action cannot be condoned when the lives‚ health and well-being of residents are compromised.”

Saahip said closing healthcare facilities and medicine and supply shortages at provincial depots can have “devastating consequences” for patients.

“Not only is death a possibility in some cases‚ but patients who have been stabilised on chronic medicines risk having inadequate control of their ongoing medical condition‚ while patients needing medicines for acute conditions face the possibility of not receiving medicines at all.”